Airbag and seat belt guides

The airbag light means the system found a fault. These are the nine causes we see most often, and which of them need a specialist.

Clearing a code can switch the light off, but it does not fix the fault behind it. Here is when a reset is the right step and when it is not.

There are tricks online that switch the light off without a scan tool. Here is what they do, why we do not recommend them and what to do instead.

A small knock can set the airbag light even when nothing looks damaged. This is what may have happened and what to check next.

SRS stands for supplemental restraint system. This is what is in it, what happens in a crash and why one fault can switch the whole system off.

How a crash data reset works step by step, how long it takes, what it costs and what it does not fix.

Two ways to deal with an airbag module that holds crash data. What each one involves, where each makes sense and what the price difference looks like.

In many cases the stored crash record can be cleared and the original module reused. These are the cases that work and the ones that do not.

Retractors, webbing and pretensioners can often be repaired. These are the cases where repair works and the cases where replacement is the safer choice.

When the passenger airbag fires, the dashboard often splits or lifts. This is what can be repaired and when a replacement dashboard makes sense.